A new idea I had in order to help me go through the NFL team’s rosters and examine all the personnel and coaching changes, etc., one-by-one. I’m going to look at two teams head-to-head in seven key categories (my bias on what is ‘key’). The team that gets my vote in each category gets a ‘win’…the first team to 4 wins moves on to the next round. Just a quick, hopefully fun, way to take the temperature of each team heading into the 2023 preseason.
The seven categories…it’s actually six because one category is so important that it’s worth double:
1-2) The quarterbacks comparison…the winner of this gets 2 wins, or if too close to call it could be a 1-1 split.
3) O-Line -- Judging which team has the better O-Line…the most critical aspect of a team after the QB.
4) Cornerbacks -- After O-Line, I think the most critical position is shutdown corners (or not having any).
5) Head Coach/Organization -- A battle of which coaches will get in the way less, to some degree but also an edge given to teams that will attract free agents or be a desired destination in trades…and what teams are filling the stadium for home games, etc. Everything rolled into one judgment call.
6) Offensive Weapons -- Which team has the better, scarier RB-WR-TE group.
7) Kicker -- If it comes down to #7, of course the kicker should make the determination...as the kicker often determines the winner of a 59+ minute war prior with a last second make/miss.
As we lead into each category and tap a winner -- I’m also listing the major add/loss for each team in the offseason so far, just to eyeball it as a list.
Is this a brilliant way to judge teams over another? Who knows! But it struck me as something fun to do while studying each team this preseason, after the majority of offseason moves have been made.
MIN major adds: WR Addison, CB Murphy, DE Davenport, TE Oliver, DE Lowry
MIN major losses: RB D. Cook, LB Za’D Smith, DT Tomlinson, WR Thielen, CB Peterson, LB Kendricks
---------------------------
CHI major adds: OL D. Wright, CB T. Stevenson, DT G. Dexter, LB Trem. Edmunds, OG N. Davis, DE D. Walker, LB T.J. Edwards, RB D. Foreman
CHI major losses: RB D Montgomery, OT R. Reiff
QB (2x): Justin Fields got flashier in 2022, but Kirk Cousins is still the WAY better NFL QB. I’ll take Fields for FF though!
Minnesota takes a (2-0) lead.
O-Line: The Bears O-Line is getting better and better, and it led the league in rushing yards per carry in 2022…but was one of the most sacked lines in the league. The ypc boost came from Fields running wild, not normal RB running plays. However, the Vikings O-Line was not great -- 8th most sacked, 7th lowest ypc in 2022. Both lines were weak in 2022 but going forward, the Bears added Darnell Wright (draft) and Nate Davis (FA)…while the Vikings did little to help the O-Line in the offseason. Give it to the team making an effort at improvement…da Bears.
Vikes lead (2-1).
CBs: I can only base things on ‘if healthy’…and if healthy the Vikings trio of Byron Murphy, Andrew Booth, and Akayleb Evans are really good/promising. The Bears are pretty good too with Jaylon Johnson, Kyler Gordon…but probably rookie Tyrique Stevenson as having to start. Of that group, I think Murphy and Booth are the best two CBs on here…so win to the Vikings.
Minny goes up (3-1).
HC/Organization: No one really wants to play in Chicago, or for Chicago…if they have options. While the Vikings are the highest graded organization to play for by the players. I like both coaches, but like Kevin O’Connell a touch more than Eberflus…and I think Bears O-C Luke Getsy might be an issue developing. Edge to the Vikes.
Minnesota clinches the series (4-1).
Weapons: You have to like the Vikes at WR for Justin Jefferson alone…even though I LOVE Claypool and Mooney, two of my favorite ‘buried’ WRs. The Vikings are empty at RB…and Chicago is doing things right with a committee and having D’Onta Foreman in that committee. Push at TE…I don’t love either. Jefferson alone could win this but then everything else points to Chicago…and the Vikings setting up their backfield with Alexander Mattison is a huge mistake, I think. So…I lean it to Chicago for their depth of weapons. It could go either way…and Chicago won’t use their weapons at WR properly, so I should penalize them for that…but Minnesota has already won – so I’ll throw the Bears a bone.
Vikings lead (4-2).
Kicker: Chicago is a brutal place to kick, but Cairo Santos has been 90%+ FG accuracy in his three seasons there. A really amazing run. Greg Joseph has been OK in great home dome conditions. Edge to Santos.
It was closer than expected, but the Vikings edge it out overall (4-3).
